Amateur-built MX accident near Visalia, California, September 7, 1983
On September 7, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MX (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Visalia, California. It was an instructional flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Visalia, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MX
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 5607
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS ULTRALIGHT PLT, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, EXPRESSED SOME ANXIETY ABOUT FLYING ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE INSTRUCTOR REVIEWED THE PROCEDURES WITH HER ON THE GROUND, BUT DID NOT FLY WITH HER. THE ACFT, PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, HAD LESS THAN 2 GALLONS OF FUEL. IT BURNS 2 GALS/HR. THIS FLT WAS SCHEDULED FOR 30 MINUTES. THE ACFT FLEW FOR ABOUT 15 MINS.AFTER TAKEOFF PRIOR TO RETURNING TO LAND. THE ACFT MADE SEVERAL APPROACHES ONLY TO GO-AROUND. THE INSTRUCTOR AND HIS PARTNER TOOKOFF IN A 2 PLACE VEHICLE TO TRY TO LEAD THE STUDENT IN, BUT BROKE OFF THEIR APPROACH BEFORE SHE LANDES. SHE GOT ABOUT 2 FT AGL, BUT WENT AROUND AGAIN WITHOUT EVER REDUCING THE POWER BELOW 75 PERCENT. ON THE NEXT BASE LEG THE ACFT PITCHED UP AND STALLED AFTER WHICH IT PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND CRASHED. AFTER CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE PROPELLER WAS NOT ROTATING AT GROUND CONTACT AND THE ACFT AND ENGINE CONTAINED NO FUEL. THE ENGINE OPERATED AFTER REFUELING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 13 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1983; 6 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 377 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 1,200 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from VIS, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.